Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Oregon.
Oregon State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 181 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Oregon State University earn around $33,079 in the first couple years of their career. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $20,273 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Oregon State University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Reed College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Portland, Reed College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Reed College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Reed College generally make around $30,588. Students borrow a median of $21,137 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Reed College
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Western Oregon University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 58 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Oregon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $31,917 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Western Oregon University
George Fox University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Newberg. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 46 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at George Fox University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,854 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,694.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for George Fox University
A rank of #5 makes University Of Oregon one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Eugene. About 72% of students finish within six years. University Of Oregon awarded about 374 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $23,900 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,194.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Oregon
Portland State University placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Portland State University awarded about 225 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $24,009. Portland State University graduates carry a median of $31,421 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Portland State University
Portland Community College came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Portland Community College awarded about 215 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Portland Community College earn around $26,285 in the first couple years of their career. Portland Community College graduates carry a median of $17,512 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Portland Community College
Southern Oregon University earned the #8 position for visual & performing arts this year. Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ashland. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 126 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Southern Oregon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $20,668 in their early career. Southern Oregon University graduates carry a median of $21,838 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Southern Oregon University
Chemeketa Community College landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Chemeketa Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Salem. There were roughly 24 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Chemeketa Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Chemeketa Community College generally make around $45,440. Students borrow a median of $15,755 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Chemeketa Community College
Lewis And Clark College placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Portland, Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $43,381 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Lewis And Clark College
Mt Hood Community College came in at #11 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 26 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Mt Hood Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mt Hood Community College generally make around $53,948. Mt Hood Community College graduates carry a median of $18,767 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Mt Hood Community College
Lane Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Eugene, Lane Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 20 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lane Community College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lane Community College earn a median of $60,759 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,373.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Lane Community College
Pacific Northwest College Of Art earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Portland, Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 104 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Pacific Northwest College Of Art in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,222 in their early career. Pacific Northwest College Of Art graduates carry a median of $26,962 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Pacific Northwest College Of Art
Rogue Community College earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. Rogue Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Grants Pass. There were roughly 42 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Rogue Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $51,243 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,248 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Rogue Community College
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 27 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
